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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

October 12-17, 2008, Beijing, China

NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF A SHEAR-LINK ENERGY DISSIPATOR

FOR SEISMIC PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
Francisco Hurtado1 and Luis M. Bozzo2
11

University of Michoacn (UMSNH), Civil Engineer School, Structures Department,

58000 Morelia Michoacn, Mxico
2
Luis Bozzo Projects and Structures, S.L, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
Email: fco.hsoto@gmail.com, lbozrot@ciccp.es

ABSTRACT :
This paper presents the numerical analysis and the experimental results of an energy dissipator based on metal
yielding for seismic protection of buildings. The study is oriented to propose a Shear-Link device that exhibits
yielding when experiencing small displacements and to evaluate its experimental behavior. It is presented the
numerical model of the proposed device and their force-displacement relation-ship, as well as the results of the
device hysteretic characterization test when applying monotonic growing load. The corresponding
force-displacement relation-ship is obtained to validate the numerical model. The experimental model was
manufactured whit conventional structural steel. Its shape in wide-flange section allows an optimum energy
dissipation in the whole section besides being very stable provided web buckling is avoided. Its behavior
therefore is similar to that of eccentric bracing. The results were generalized in 32 different units whit yielding
force between 13.65 kN and 435.5 kN. All these units had yielding displace around 0.25 mm.
KEYWORDS:

Shear, Link, Energy, Dissipator

1. INTRODUCTION
In the last decades a lot of the investigation carried out on the structural behavior of buildings in seismic areas,
has been focused to the development of seismic control systems, as much for the seismic design of new
constructions as for the buildings rehabilitation damaged by these phenomena. All This, like an alternative to
the conventional seismic design, based on the concepts of ductility and structural redundancy, that allows
significant reduction in the forces induced by a severe earthquake. However, with the reduction of these forces,
it is being accepted that the structure can suffer damages of certain magnitude when an intense earthquake is
presented, since the structure can work in the non linear range with the consequent yielding of some of its
elements. The above mentioned, originates the appearance of permanent deformations, which usually generates
damages in the structural and non structural elements, especially in those structures that have low ductility, or
they are very flexible.
The systems of structural control, contrary to the above mentioned, concentrate the damages that can be
presented by the action of a severe earthquake on certain elements or connections that can be easily replaced
and which failure do not put in danger the global security of the structures. These systems may also deviate the
seismic movement effect from the structure to other elements designed specially for it, so that the vibrations
originated by the action of the earthquake, do not damage the constructions which may be dampen, without
damaging the main structure.

2. SL DISSIPATORS DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

The proposed Shear-Link dissipator is based on the eccentric braces structural system since the overall shape is

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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a well stiffened wide-flange section (see figure 4 and 5). However, the system is not based on standard shapes
or specially welded ones. Instead the device is milled from a plane standard shape. This fabrication process
proposed by Cahs (1998) allows very thin dissipative areas without welding. In the other hand, as in eccentric
braces, dissipation of energy is uniform in the whole section, and it is very stable provided web buckling is
avoided. Another important feature of the SL dissipator is that it presents a double mode work. Initially the energy is
dissipated mainly in the web by uniform shear stresses in a shear mode. After the web degrades the stiffeners
continue dissipating energy in a flexural mode. The deflected shape changes significantly among those modes from
a linear one to a curved one. The importance of this feature is that it provides a robust system that continues
dissipating energy even after the web is degraded. Even though the design of the connection counts only the first
working mode, the second one provides an additional safety factor.

3. NUMERICAL PLASTICITY ANALYSIS

To define the optimum shape and characteristics of the dissipator, four basic preliminary devices called
Disip1SL30_2, Disip2SL30_2, Disip3SL30_2 and Disip4SL30_2, have been compared. All have in common two
vertical stiffeners (20 mm width) at both lateral ends, the width is 300 mm, the web thickens 2mm and the initial
plate thickness 20 mm. The first device has 200 mm height and just one 10 mm vertical stiffener (besides the two
at the ends just indicated). Consequently this device has two milled areas of 125x200 mm. The second device
adds an horizontal 10 mm stiffener, so the milled areas are 125x95 mm. The objective is to increase their strength
against web buckling. In this line the third device has two horizontal stiffeners, so the milled areas are 125x60
mm. The last preliminary device reduces the vertical height up to 110 mm maintaining a horizontal stiffener. The
dimensions for this device is presented in figure 4.
The plastic nonlinear analysis has been performed using the computer program ANSYS. The model for all the
cases corresponds to the isotropic hardening one giving the complete stress strain material relation. This relation
was obtained experimentally for a typical material. Figure 1 shows the Von Mises stresses for a given imposed
relative displacement of 20 mm for the devices Disip3SL30_2 and Disip4SL30_2 These stresses are uniformly
distributed in all the dissipative windows, indicating a maximum profit of the material. Besides this indicates that
the stiffeners do not affect significantly the dissipation.

Disip3SL30_2

Figure 1.

Disip4SL30_2

Von Mises stresses for the Disip3SL30_2 and Disip4SL30_2 devices.

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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Figure 2 presents the forcedisplacement relation-ship for the preliminary 200 mm vertical height proposed
devices. The objective is to study the influence of the stiffeners in the yielding strength and post-yielding slope.
The increase in stiffeners originates a small increment in the yielding strength, although the post-yielding slope
is maintained constant in all the cases. Consequently, the total dissipated energy is increased as the number of
stiffeners increases, although the milled area is reduced by them. This result is explained by the stiffness
increase. For design purposes, however, all these devices have very similar performances regarding the
forcedisplacement relation-ship.

FORCE-DISPLACEMENT RELATION-SHIP
180
160

Shear force (kN)

140
120
100
80
60
40
20

Displacement (cm)

0
0

0.5

Disip1SL30_2

1.5

Disip2SL30_2

2.5

Disip3SL30_2

Figure 2. Nonlinear monotonic ForceDisplacement relation-ship for the preliminary devices

with 200 mm dissipative height.

Figure 3(a) presents similar curves but only for the Disip2SL30_2 (200 mm vertical height) and the
Disip4SL30_2 (110 mm vertical height) preliminary proposed devices. In this case it is notorious the increase in
stiffness due to the reduction in vertical dimension. Consequently, the yielding strength is also increased since the
yielding displacement is relatively constant among these two preliminary devices. The post-yielding slope is also
relatively constant although there is a small increment in stiffness due to the reduction in vertical height.
Regarding the dissipated energy it is significantly larger for the stiffer device and this results is explained by
demanding a larger deformation capacity in the material.
Figure 3(b) shows the influence of the strain hardening in the monotonic forcedisplacement relation-ship for
device Disip2SL30_2. The model without hardening shows a small increment in force due to zones that initially
do not reach the yielding point. The curve is relatively flat after yielding indicating that the device yields almost
completely at the same displacement. This result also indicates that for an imposed 20 mm relative
displacement the strains are much larger than the initial yielding one demanding a large deformation capacity.
Table 1 summarizes the results from the selection process. Devises Disip1SL30_2 and Disip2SL30_2 are
disregarded due to web buckling. The dissipators drift during a strong earthquake may be about 10mm,
consequently web buckling displacement must be larger than this value. The buckling displacements for these
two devices are only 4.98 and 8.95 mm.
Devices Disip3SL30_2 and Disip4SL30_2 have initial web buckling displacements of 17.87 and 14.2 mm,
respectively. The main advantages of the Disip4SL30_2 device compared to Disip3SL30_2 one is its larger
stiffness and energy dissipation as well as its smaller milled area. However, these advantages required a larger
material ductility. Therefore, the maximum deformation in the device for a 20mm device drift is 0.2902, much
larger than the maximum deformation of 0.1515 for the other one. However this material deformation capacity

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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is available for commercial steel and the maximum 20mm drift considered is double the dissipator working
displacement (between 0 to 10mm). Consequently the selected device is the Disip4SL30_2 called from now on
device SL30_2.

FORCE-DISPLACEMENT RELATION-SHIP

FORCE -DISPLACEMENT RELATION-SHIP

180

250

160
140

Shear force (kN)

Shear force (kN)

200

150

100

120
100
80
60
40

50

20

Displacement (cm)

Displacement (cm)

0.5

1.5

Disip2SL30_2

2.5

0.5

Disip4SL30_2

Disip2SL30_2

(a)

1.5

Disip2SL30_2bl

(b)

Figure 3. Monotonic ForceDisplacement relation-ship

(a). for devices including one horizontal stiffener but with 110 and 200 mm dissipative height
(b). for device Disip2SL30_2 with and without including material hardening.

Table 1. Selection criteria for the dissipators dimensions

1.

SELLECTION CRITERION
Milled area (cm2)

Disip1Sl30_2

Disip2SL30_2 Disip3SL30_2

Disip4SL30_2

500

475

450

250

2.

Number of windows

3.

Max. horizontal reactions (kN)

154.54

160.392

167.015

229.296

4.

Max. vertical reactions (kN)

13.064

13.835

14.596

15.152

5.

Maximum strain

0.1437

0.1470

0.1515

0.2902

6.

Maximum shear strain

0.1651

0.1687

0.1749

0.3304

7.

Post-yielding slope

34.986

37.2273

41.3124

64.6584

8.

Initial stiffness (kN/cm)

2,300.35

2,422.05

2,552.15

3,238.60

9.

Dissipated energy (kN.cm)

237

248

260

346

10.

Yielding force (kN)

85.984

87.425

85.853

102.016

11.

Yielding displacement (mm)

0.405

0.40

0.354

0.315

12.

Web buckling displ. (mm)

4.98

8.95

17.87

14.20

13.

Von Mises stresses (kN/cm2)

41.342

41.661

42.491

50.069

14.

Max.

23.742

24.051

24.530

28.445

shear stress (kN/cm2)

2.5

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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Figure 4. Dimensions for the Disip4SL30_2 device

Figure 5. Experimental SL30_2 model

tested at ISMES, Italy

4. DESIGN TABLE FOR SL DEVICES

As indicated previously the vertical dimension for the proposed SL devices fixes the vertical dimension in 110
mm, including one horizontal stiffener, such as shown in figure 4. These devices are called from this point as
SLX_Y where X denotes the total width and Y denotes the web thickness. The parameter X is varied between 50,
up to 500mm and the parameter Y may be 2,3,4 or 5 mm for each given value of X. Consequently there are
32(4x8) different devices under a similar response pattern, providing a large set of nonlinear connections to select
from. For example the yielding force among these devices varies from 13.65 kN up to 435.5 kN.
Table 2 presents a summary of the most relevant design parameters for these devices. In order to develop this
table a numerical-experimental calibration test was performed at ISMES (Bergamo, Italy) for the device SL30_2
shown in figure 5. The objective of the test was double fold: (1) calibrate the nonlinear ANSYS model and (2)
study the influence of the bolted connection in the hysteretic curves. The experimental tests were cyclic so the
monotonic curve shown in figure 6 corresponds to the skeleton of figure 8. Figure 6 shows this
numerical-experimental calibration indicating that a good correlation can be obtained using the relatively simple
isotropic hardening plasticity model. This is considered an advantage of the device compared to others based on
friction or viscous-elastic response that are more difficult to model. For example friction devices are significantly
affected by sliding velocity or normal contact pressure. In the other hand viscous devices are affected by
temperature. In contrast steel is a material simpler to model and stable under a variety of environmental
conditions.
The second experimental objective was more complex since it involved various connection details in order to
determine potential fatigue due to continuous loading such as wind. The bolts were all 20 mm diameter but their
prestressing force or the dimensions of the holes were varied from 21, 22 and 24 mm. Cycling tests were
performed to obtain hysteretic curves and fatigue ones.
Figures 7 and 8 shows the hysteretic curves for the connection with the smallest tolerance, i.e. 21mm holes. The
figure 7 includes the slippage in the connection while the curve in 8 do not include any slippage (This indicates
that the first curve is obtained using displacement transducers above the holes and the second curve within the
holes and consequently do not including the slipping of the bolts). The experimental yielding force was about 150
kN and the yielding displacement about 0.5-1 mm. The total cumulative dissipated energy before any degrading
of the devices was 77.528 kN.mm and 53.851 kN.mm for the first and second curves, respectively. For the second
case the total dissipated energy after degradation of the device, i.e. including the flexure mode, was 97.210
kN.mm. This indicates that a significant additional energy may be attained by the flexural mode as well as by the
slipping of the connection. However, slippage is not considered a good response characteristic since it is difficult
to predict. Consequently the tolerance is reduced as much as possible just for installing the devices.

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

October 12-17, 2008, Beijing, China

FORCE-DISPLACEMENT RELATION-SHIP
300

Shear force (kN)

250

200

150

100

50

Displacement (cm)
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Skeleton curve

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Numeric curve

Figure 6. Experimental and numerical monotonic Force-Displacement relation-ship

for device SL30_2

HYSTERETIC CURVE (PR5, ECO85)

300

200

200

Shear force (kN)

Shear force (kN)

HYSTERETIC CURVE (PR5, ECO85)

300

100

-100

-100

-200

-200

-300
-40

100

-30

-20

-10

10

20

30

40

Horizontal relative displacement (mm)

Figure 7. Hysteretic curve for device SL30_2

including slippage of the bolts

-300
-40

-30

-20

-10

10

20

30

40

Horizontal relative displacement (mm)

Figure 8. Hysteretic curve for device SL30_2

without slippage of the bolts

Regarding fatigue due to repetitive loading such as wind, it was observed but after a large number of cycles even
for a large imposed displacement. This was a quite surprising result since initially it was estimated that a small
number of cycles in +- 10mm range should cause fatigue. Experimentally it was observed that even with this large
drift the number of cycles was more than one hundred. This result is explained by the slippage of the bolted
connections that reduced the plastic strain in the devices significantly, particularly after the initial cycles. The
experimental failure mode was fatigue of the bolted vertical connections that attached the devices to the testing
machine. Due to experimental set up restrains these bolts were welded to a horizontal plate filling the 21 mm
holes. This weld failed after a large number of cycles most probably by the continuous impact caused by the
slippage of the bolts in the holes. Taking into account that the drift due to wind loads will be much smaller than 10
mm it can be concluded from the tests that fatigue is not a concern in these devices, at least, providing a minimum
1mm hole tolerance. The devices are usually installed after completing the construction of the structure, so they
do not carry any significant vertical load. Consequently due to building deformations tolerance is always
necessary for installing the devices.

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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Table 2. The most relevant design parameters for the devices

Device

K1

K2

dy

fy

Dy

Fy

Fmax

Da

Ed

(KN/cm)

(KN/cm)

(mm)

(kN)

(mm)

(kN)

(kN)

(mm)

(KN.cm)

SL5_2
SL5_3
SL5_4
SL5_5

2
3
4
5

546,1
663,5
763,8
834,3

14,4
13,4
11,8
8,8

0,250
0,321
0,357
0,357

13,65
21,30
27,27
29,78

0,463
0,549
0,628
0,716

25,27
36,40
47,96
59,76

47,32
56,59
65,26
72,93

39,93
89,87
159,83
249,81

54
69
84
97

SL10_2
SL10_3
SL10_4
SL10_5

2
3
4
5

1 273,8
1 644,4
1 979,1
2 216,7

22,1
21,6
20,1
17,4

0,250
0,277
0,304
0,331

31,85
45,55
60,16
73,26

0,437
0,491
0,540
0,600

55,68
80,67
106,86
133,00

89,56
113,62
136,91
159,27

29,81
67,10
119,35
186,45

109
146
182
216

SL15_2
SL15_3
SL15_4
SL15_5
SL20_2
SL20_3
SL20_4
SL20_5

2
3
4
5

2 285,9
2 929,6
3 493,5
3 856,1

22,4
23,3
22,9
22,3

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

57,15
78,51
99,91
123,78

0,567
0,565
0,573
0,618

129,60
165,55
200,20
238,33

163,04
200,32
236,30
271,48

20,29
45,66
81,18
126,85

216
271
325
377

2
3
4
5

2 971,2
3 980,0
4 719,3
5 262,7

24,1
24,9
25,8
24,0

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

74,28
106,66
134,97
168,93

0,536
0,527
0,553
0,596

159,18
209,68
261,00
313,46

195,36
247,72
298,88
349,12

15,96
35,92
63,85
99,77

262
339
414
489

SL25_2
SL25_3
SL25_4
SL25_5

2
3
4
5

3 660,6
4 859,0
5 921,3
6 613,5

24,3
25,2
24,7
24,5

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

91,51
130,22
169,35
212,29

0,514
0,524
0,544
0,588

188,18
254,52
321,82
389,20

224,74
292,09
358,05
423,17

14,44
32,50
57,79
90,30

305
404
501
597

2
3
4
5

4 353,6
5 791,0
7 129,9
7 981,8

24,5
25,5
25,4
25,2

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

108,84
155,20
203,91
256,21

0,497
0,513
0,531
0,575

216,56
297,22
378,46
459,17

253,78
336,02
416,81
496,73

13,75
30,93
54,99
85,92

348
468
587
704

SL40_2
SL40_3
SL40_4
SL40_5

2
3
4
5

5 820,4
7 778,5
9 621,2
10 777,4

30,9
32,0
33,1
31,8

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

145,51
208,46
275,17
345,95

0,490
0,507
0,523
0,570

285,12
394,44
503,33
614,29

331,02
442,74
553,98
662,15

14,02
31,55
66,90
104,53

455
619
781
941

SL50_2
SL50_3
SL50_4
SL50_5

2
3
4
5

7 223,6
9 703,1
12 109,3
13 566,7

32,9
35,9
32,7
31,0

0,250
0,268
0,286
0,321

180,59
260,04
346,33
435,49

0,473
0,495
0,514
0,563

342,00
480,00
622,22
764,00

391,08
533,58
671,76
810,65

13,40
30,16
53,62
83,79

542
749
954
1160

SL30_2
SL30_3
SL30_4
SL30_5

K1, Initial stiffness

K2, Post-yielding stiffness
dy, Initial yielding displacement
fy,
Initial yielding force
Dy, Yield displacement

Fy, Yield force

Fmax, 1.559 cm displacement force to
Da, Web buckling displacement
e,
Milled area thickness
Ed, Dissipated energy

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The 14 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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5. CONCLUSIONS

In this study the device proposed has an excellent capacity of energy dissipation that basically is carrie out
through inelastic strain of the web and it is characterized for uniform stress distribution in the dissipative area,
which is similar to the distribution of shear stresses in the web of a wide-flange section.
The device works in a double mode. Initially the energy is mainly dissipated in the web by uniform shear
stresses in a shear mode. After the web degrades the stiffeners continue dissipating energy in a flexural mode,
leading to a robust system that continue dissipating energy even after the web degradation.
The calibration of the force-displacement relation-ship of the numeric model with respect to the backbone of
the experimental model showed a good correlation using a the relatively simple isotropic hardening plasticity
model. This is an advantage of the device compared to other devices based on friction or viscous-elastic
response that are more difficult of modeling. All the devices yielded at very low displacements on the order of
0.25 - 0.35 mm while the yielding forces varied between 13.65 and 435.5 kN with associated dissipated energy
between 54 and 1160 kN.cm respectively.
This device can be used for seismic protection of existing buildings or for providing ductility to new buildings.
Using the design chart presented in this paper, it is relatively simple to analyze buildings equipped with this
type of histertic connections, under seismic excitations.

6. REFERENCES
Bozzo, L.M., Cahs, X. y Torres, Ll. (1998). A shear type energy dissipator for the protection of masonry infill
walls. Proceedings of the Sixth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering: Seattle, Washington.
Bozzo, L. and Barbat A. (1999), Diseo sismorresistente de edificios. Tcnicas convencionales y avanzadas,
Editorial Reverte, Barcelona.
Cahs X, Torres Ll, Bozzo L. (2000). An inovative elasto-plastic energy dissipator for the structural and
non-structural building protection. 12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering: Auckland, New Zeland.
Hurtado S. F. (2006). Propuesta de disipador genrico SL para edificios y su diseo sismorresistente. Tesis
Doctoral, Barcelona.
Kasai, K. and Popov, E.P. (1986). Cyclic web buckling control for shear link beams. Journal of Structural
Engineering, ASCE: 110(3), 505-523.
Rai, D.C. and Wallace, B.J.(1998). Aluminium Shear-links for enhance seismic resistance. Earthquake
Engineering and Structural Dynamics: 27,315-342.
Roeder, C.W., and Popov, E.P. (1977). Inelastic behavior of eccentric braced steel frames under cyclic loadings.
EERC Report no. 77-18, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley.